NY1: Queens Soup Kitchen Asks for Public's Help Replenishing Supplies

A local soup kitchen that rushed to help the victims of a recent building explosion in Brooklyn is asking for help in replenishing its shelves.

The Masbia Soup Kitchen in Rego Park has been serving hot meals since 2010. The non-profit relies on donations from local food banks and the public to keep its food pantry alive. Lately, organizers say their supplies have been stretched thin due to the building explosion in Boro Park and a decrease in donations.

“Every week we give out 20 to 30-thousand pounds of food,” said Masbia’s Rego Park Site Coordinator, Patrick Jean-Baptiste. “Last week, we were lucky if we had 10 or 15 thousand.”

“People line up in front of here a few hours before we open and the lines go around the corner,” added Executive Director Alexander Rapaport. “We try to make sure to never send anyone away.”